Rent vs. Buy in Monroe County, WI

Should you rent or buy in Monroe County? Here are the numbers.

Median Home Price

$184,000

Median Rent

$919/mo

Price-to-Rent Ratio

16.7x

Homeownership Rate

71.5%

Monthly Cost Comparison

Buying (20% down, 6.5% rate)

Mortgage (P&I)$930
Property Tax$232
Insurance$61

Total Monthly$1,223

Renting

Monthly Rent$919
Renter's Insurance$25

Total Monthly$944

In Monroe County, buying costs approximately $304/mo more than renting. This doesn't account for equity buildup, tax deductions, or home appreciation.

About Monroe County, Wisconsin

Monroe County in Wisconsin has a median household income of $66,451 and an effective property tax rate of 1.5%. With a price-to-rent ratio of 16.7x, the rent-vs-buy decision is nuanced and depends on your timeline.

These are starting estimates based on county-level medians. Your actual costs depend on the specific property, your credit score, down payment, and dozens of other variables. Our Monte Carlo simulation models 10,000 scenarios to give you probability-weighted answers, not single-point estimates.

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Other Counties in Wisconsin

County-level data from U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2022 5-Year Estimates. Additional sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Housing Finance Agency. Estimates are based on county-level medians and may not reflect specific neighborhoods or property types. This is not financial advice — consult a licensed professional before making housing decisions.